Funnel.



c. GENTLE.

FUNNEL.

APPLIOATION FILED MARE, 1913. 1,104,354, Patented July 21, 191i gyzz rm: NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, n, c

GUTI-IIBERT GENTLE, 0F DORCHESTEB,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS H.

BOWDIDGE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FUNNEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1914.

Application filed March 5, 1913. Serial No. 752,086.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CUTHBERT GENTLE, a subject of the King of England, residing at Dorchester, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Funnels, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to funnels which are used to fill receptacles with liquid.

The object of the invention is the provision of a funnel of simplified and improved construction which is convenient to operate, which is adapted to fill receptacles of widely varying sizes, which is provided with a novel valve constructed and arranged to automatically open when the spout of the funnel is inserted within the receptacle and automatically close when the spout is withdrawn and which is provided with novel means for permitting the air in the receptacle being filled to escape without passing through the liquid in the funnel.

To the accomplishment of this object and such others as may hereinafter appear the features of the invention relate to certain devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and then set forth broadly and in detail in the appended claims which possess advantages readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The various features of the present invention will be best understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings illustrating the best form of the invention at present known to the inventor, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the funnel; Fig. 2 is a detail in sectional elevation showing a modified valve construction; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on the line 33, Fig. 2, and Fig. 1 is a detail in side elevation of the valve illustrated in Fig. 1.

In order that a single fluid container of suitable size may be employed to fill receptacles of widely varying. sizes the neck of the fluid container 1 is provided with eX- terior threads 3 which are engaged by interior threads i formed upon the upper end of the spout. WVith this construction each spout may be readily detached and another spout of different size attached to the fluid container.

In order to permit the air from the receptacle being filled to escape without passing through the body of liquid in the container 1 the spout 2 is provided with an internal tube 4 and an external tube 5 spaced therefrom and suitably joined to the internal tube at 6. The external tube 5 is provided with a longitudinal series of slits 7 and is upset at its slit end to open the slits to provide for the passage of the air escaping from the receptacle being filled. The two tubes 1 and 5, as will be observed, are spaced apart as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and thelower end of the internal tube 4t, terminates a short distance above the lower edges of the slits 7 in the external tube 5. This construction not only permits the ready escape of air from the receptacle when the same is being filled, but also obviates any possibility of the liquid being wasted or spilled through the slits 7, were said slits made in a single tube, for instance, that extended to the part 6. Furthermore, the air being brought directly in contact with the liquid by means of the spaced tubes 4; and 5 facilitates rapidity in the flow of the liquid in filling and also prevents after drips.

In order to automatically close the passage between the fluid container 1 and the spout 2 the spout carries a valve 7 (Fig. 1). The valve is provided with a hollow cylindrical stem 8 which slides within the tube 4:, an opening 9 formed therein, and a heavy ball 10 arranged to fit over the upper opening in the spout and prevent the liquid from the container passing through the opening 9. To open the valve when the spout is inserted within the neck of a bottle the stem 8 carries a pair of horizontal arms 11 which project through a pair of opposed slits 7, being normally spaced below the lower end of the internal tube 1. With this construction when the spout is inserted within the neck of the bottle the arms 11 strike the mouth of the bottle which elevates the valve until the opening 9 is open to the liquid in the container, the lower edge of the internal tube 4 serving as a stop to limit the upward movement of the arms 11 in opening the valve. When the receptacle is filled the valve automatically closes under the influence of gravity when the spout is withdrawn from the receptacle.

In Fig. 2 the valve 10 is provided with a depending stem 12 which carries a cross bar 13 for opening the valve. The valve is without departing from fluid container guided within the tube 4 by four lugs 14 arrangedto engage the internal peripheral Wall of the tube WVhile it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement of the parts shown and described it will be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential, nor is the conjoint use of all the features of the invention essential except so far as specified in the appended claims, and it may be varied or modified the broader features of the invent-ion.

What is claimed as new, is

lfIn a funnel, the combination with a p of a spout composed of a short inner tube section and a long outer tube section rigidly secured together, the upper end of the long tube section fitting around and spaced from the short tube section and having slots extending below the end of the inner tube section, and a valve normally closing said inner tube section, said valve having arms extending out through the slots 1n the outer tube section and normally spaced below-the end of the inner tube section, the latter serving as a I stop to limit the upward movement of said arms for opening the valve, substantially as described.

2. In a funnel, the combination witha fiuidcontainer, of a spout composed of two spaced tubes, the outer tube having longitudinal air vents, and a valve arranged in the inner tube and adapted to close by gravity, said valve having through the air vents in the outer tube for engagement with the mouth of a vessel to be filled, said air vents servingas guides for said arms.

CUTHBERT GENTLE. Witnesses:

BIoN B. LIBBY, CHARLES WV. MCDERMOTT.

Copies 0! this, patent may be obtained for Ave cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

arms projecting out 

